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Harry Common

Harry has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:

Verb · Proper Noun

Definitions
Verb
1

annoy continually or chronically

"He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"

"This man harasses his female co-workers"

2

make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes

"The invading army harried the coastal villages, burning farms and driving survivors inland before dawn broke."

3

To plunder, pillage, assault.

"The bandits harried the village as they looted every house and beat anyone who tried to resist."

In plain English: To harry someone means to annoy or bother them persistently.

"The boss harried the team until they finally finished the report."

Usage: Do not use "harry" to mean annoying or bothering someone; instead, reserve it for describing the act of persistently harassing, plundering, or assaulting an enemy or group over time. This word implies a sustained military or violent campaign rather than simple irritation.

Proper Noun
1

A male given name from the Germanic languages, also used as a pet form of Henry and Harold.

"The teacher called out to Harry to pass the papers, unaware that he was actually known by his full name, Henry, in his family."

Example Sentences
"The boss harried the team until they finally finished the report." verb
"You can harry your neighbor by constantly borrowing small items without asking." verb
"The coach tried to harry the opposing team with aggressive questioning after every play." verb
"Don't harry yourself over past mistakes; focus on what you can do now." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
annoy destroy
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
needle torment haze

Origin

The word harry comes from the Old English herġian, which originally meant "to wage war" or "lead an army." It traveled into modern English with a shift in meaning to describe someone who relentlessly harasses or annoys another person.

Rhyming Words
rry arry erry urry orry perry lurry jarry larry worry marry merry jerry durry corry furry hurry kerry gurry parry
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